US20110260407A1

US20110260407A1 - bullet trap with inclined plates

Info

Publication number: US20110260407A1
Application number: US12/677,594
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Norman
Original assignee: SMITH OF ODIN
Current assignee: SMITH OF ODIN
Priority date: 2007-09-11
Filing date: 2008-09-05
Publication date: 2011-10-27
Also published as: EP2188584A4; SE0702019L; EP2188584A2; WO2009035401A2; SE532678C2; WO2009035401A3

Abstract

A bullet trap 1 with grid-like shaping including inclined plates 2. Each inclined plate is shaped with a downward bent edge 4 in the rear longitudinal side. The plates are angled downwards in such a way that a bullet that hits the underside of a plate slides along the surface of the plate before it continuous into the interior of the bullet trap, which decreases the kinetic power compared to previously known bullet traps. Kinetic energy in the bullet is absorbed by the inclined plate to a larger extent than when using previously known bullet traps.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to bullet traps for shooting ranges.

KNOWN PRIOR ART

Bullet traps for shooting ranges are often designed with inclined plates which guide bullets at an angle downwards in a cabinet-like construction. The inclined plates are shaped as plane metal sheet parts. This kind of bullet trap is often built up in sections with side plates which act as sides of the sections. A bullet trap built up in sections facilitates installation in rooms with different width and height. U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,177 shows a system of sections which may be installed against a wall with arbitrary width. DE 202004005719 discloses a bullet trap with side plates and a rear wall which holds up inclined plates that receives bullet hits.
A problem with previous known bullet traps is that they are adapted for bullets which contain lead. It has become more common with environmentally adapted ammunition. This kind of ammunition typically has a kernel with higher strength than older bullets. An example of that kind of ammunition is bullets constructed with a steel kernel with a jacket of copper. That kind of bullets has a higher strength than bullets which contain lead. As a consequence environmentally adapted ammunition causes an increased wear on bullet traps shaped in a traditional way. Plates in known bullet traps hence need to be exchanged with shorter interval when new types of bullets are used compared to when bullets with lead are used.
A further problem when using bullets with a steel kernel is that it remains a larger amount of kinetic energy after a ricochet against an inclined plate, compared to if bullets containing lead are used. The wall behind or rubber fabric is hence faster weared out when traditional bullet traps are used when shooting with bullet that have a kernel of steel.
At transport, mounting, and above all replacement of worn plates in previously known bullet traps it is a disadvantage that each separate inclined plate has had relatively high weight.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object with the invention is to show a bullet trap, for bullets fired with handheld weapons, that shows relatively long intervals between that an inclined plate has to be exchanged and also that the kinetic energy in bullets which leaves the area with the inclined plates is lower than for bullets that passes through previously known bullet traps, which reduces wear of a wall behind the bullet trap.
Each inclined plate is shaped with a downward bent edge in the rear longitudinal side. The plates are angled downwards in such a way that a bullet that hits the underside of a plate slides along the surface of the plate before it continuous into the interior of the bullet trap, which reduces the kinetic energy compared to earlier known bullet traps. The kinetic energy in the bullet is absorbed by the inclined plate to a larger extent then when using previously known bullet traps. Kinetic energy in the bullet is transformed to kinetic energy in the plate but also to heat depending on friction in the boundary between a bullet and an inclined plate. This in contrast to previously known bullet traps where a bullet ricochets against only one point of a plate.
The bullet trap has a grid-like shaping including inclined plates. The number of inclined plates is more than for previously known bullet traps, provided a given height of the bullet trap. Targets that are set up in front of the bullet trap causes bullets to hit the inclined plates with certain distribution patterns. Distribution pattern varies with firing range, type of weapon and marksman. Example of weapons is automatic weapons for military purposes. For a certain distribution pattern the bullets will hit more inclined plates then when previously known bullet traps are used. This causes the inclined plates to be more evenly weared out and by that the intervals between needing to replace any plate are increased.
The inclined plates are mounted in sections. Each section includes two mounting poles. Each mounting pole has indentations in at least one of its sides for mounting of plates. Theses indentations are inclined against the floor. A mounting pole intended to support inclined plates on both its sides, and thus constitutes suspension arrangement for two sections, has indentations on both its sides. In earlier known bullet traps, suspension arrangements are typically shaped as standing plates. In front of each mounting pole an oblong angled plate is placed with the purpose of protecting the indentations against being hit by bullets. Such an angled oblong plate has the same, or to a large extent, height as the pole it is intended to protect.
A further advantage with a bullet trap according to the invention is that is has a smaller depth than earlier known bullet traps, which makes that it occupies considerably less floor space.
The bullet trap is shaped such that if a bullet is being shot angled from above downwards towards the bullet trap, then the bullet hits a plate at passage through the bullet trap. In previously known bullet traps with completely plane plates, a bullet being shot angled from above may pass the bullet trap without hitting a plate. In that case a rear wall absorbs the entire kinetic energy of the bullet. At repeated firing shot angled from above the lifetime of the rear wall is considerably longer with a bullet trap according to the invention.
In one embodiment the bullet trap is mounted in a firing casing. The mounting poles are then arranged against a front wall, which has at least one firing opening, with narrow oblong tightening devices. It is an advantage if an oblong angled plate is placed between each mounting pole and the tightening devices. Such an angled oblong plate has in this embodiment a further purpose, namely to hold the inclined plates in place in the mounting poles by pressure. As earlier mentioned such an angled also has a protecting purpose
An advantage with the bullet trap is that each inclined plate of a given length has a lower weight compared to an inclined plate according to earlier known bullet traps. This is due to the fact that the inclined plates are relatively narrow compared to plates in previously known bullet traps. Furthermore is each mounting pole lighter than corresponding side plate, side plates between the sections are not used in the bullet trap according to the invention. By those means transport and mounting of the bullet trap is facilitated as a person on his own may carry and manage each separate module even if the bullet trap is in the height of a man or higher. Each separate inclined plate is detachable from the indentations it is embedded into. The plates are thus not welded, which is common in previously known bullet traps. As the inclined plates are relatively narrow and light, it makes them easy to manage at replacement or rearrangement in the bullet trap.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying figures, where

FIG. 1 shows a bullet trap seen from the side.

FIG. 2 depicts a front part of a bullet trap seen from the front.

FIG. 3 is a view of an inclined plate, a mounting plate and a tightening device seen from above.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of a part of the front part of a bullet trap seen from the side. The inclined plates have a front edge, turned towards the shooting direction, which is bent downwards.

DESCRIPTION OF WORKING EXAMPLES

FIG. 1 shows a bullet trap 1 seen from the side. Example of an alternative denomination of a bullet trap 1 is shooting casing. The bullet trap 1 is grid-like. It is apparent from FIG. 1 that a bullet trap 1 according to the invention includes a relatively large number of inclined plates compared to previously known bullet traps. A bullet trap according to the invention typically includes at least 15 inclined plates for a section of the bullet trap that has a height corresponding to 1 meter. The direction of shooting 10 is typically to a large extent perpendicular to the standing bullet trap, but the bullet trap is shaped such that bullets shot angled from below or angled from above against targets in front of the bullet trap hits an inclined plate before the bullet hits the rear wall. The inclined plates 2 have a downward bent rear longitudinal edge 4. The inclined plates 2 are mounted such that a bullet shot straight towards that side of the bullet trap 2 that is turned against the direction of shooting 10 is intended to hit an underside 2 a of an inclined plate to slide, alternatively ricochet, along the underside 2 a of the plate towards the downward bent edge 4. The kinetic energy in the bullet is absorbed by the inclined plate to a larger extent than when using previously known bullet traps. Kinetic energy in a bullet that passes the bullet trap is by those means lower than in a bullet of the same type, shot with the same weapon, which has passed a previously known bullet trap.
In one embodiment the bullet trap is mounted in a shooting casing, which is cabinet- or boxlike. Such a shooting casing has one or several openings turned towards a position of a marksman. In one embodiment the bullet trap is adapted to be mounted in a previously installed shooting casing.
Advantageously, the inclined plates are made of high-performance steel. A suitable material is Armox 500T. The thickness of the plate is preferably 6-8 mm.
The bullet trap 1 is built up in sections. Each section includes two mounting poles 3. One mounting pole 3 may have indentations in its both sides for mounting of poles in adjacent sections. The indentations in each pole are shaped in such a way that there is at least 1 mm play for respective inclined plate to vibrate in. This causes the kinetic energy in the plate that at a hit vibrates up and down in the indentation, to be transfered to the pole. This causes energy to be spread to a larger part of the total structure of the bullet trap at each hit, compared to previously known bullet traps. By those means wear on each separate pole is reduced.
FIG. 1 further indicates that the bullet trap may be installed in a shooting casing. A shooting casing may be installed such that there are shooting openings in a front wall 7.
The bullet trap 1 may further include one or several rubber fabric or constructions in other materials intended to absorb kinetic energy from bullets in the area behind the grid-like bullet trap. A rubber fabric may also be placed in front of the bullet trap with the primary purpose of preventing splinter to be spread towards the position of a marksman.
FIG. 2 shows the front part of a section of the bullet trap 1 seen from the front, i.e. from a position of a marksman. An angled standing plate 9 is depicted in the figure. It is an advantage if an oblong angled plate is placed between each mounting pole 3 and the tightening devices 5. It is an advantage if the angled plate 9 has a profile that corresponds to the profile 3 a of the font part of the mounting pole 3. Example of profile of the mounting pole is evident from FIG. 3. The profile of such an angled plate is typically V-shaped where the tip of the V is turned towards the shooting direction. Bullets that hit the angled plate are thus guided away from the pole 3, which prevents the indentations in the pole 3 from being deformed. Such an angled oblong plate 9 has in one embodiment the further purpose of holding the inclined plates 2 in place in the mounting poles 3 by pressure.
FIG. 3 is a view of an inclined plate 2, a mounting plate 3 and a tightening device 5 seen from above. Advantageously, the mounting poles 3 are shaped in a principally triangular profile where the plane side is turned backwards. Indents in the side of the mounting poles 3 constitute indentations for the short sides 8 on the plates 2. The short sides 8 of the plates 2 have an inward running corner 8 a in the rear part. The indents in the mounting poles 3 are inclined and angled downwards. One short side of the tightening device 5 is fastened at mounting in the front wall 7 and the other end is fastened in the oblong plate 9 to secure the plate 2 in the mounting pole 3 by pressure.
FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of a part of a bullet trap 1 seen from the side. The rear edge 4 of the inclined plates may at manufacturing with advantage become bent. The rear edge 4 is directed at an angle of 45 degrees +/−10 degrees against the level of the floor. The main part of each mounted inclined plate is directed at an angle of 30 degrees +/−10 degrees against the level of the floor. In previously known bullet traps plates typically shows a considerably steeper inclination. Compared to plates that have been used in previously known bullet traps, the inclined plates 2 are more narrow and thereby lighter. The relationship between length and width for an inclined plate may vary between 20/1 and 20/2. The inclined plates typically have a length of 0.8 to 1.2 meter.
The bullet trap 1 may be arranged a rear wall 6 in a numerous different ways. For example may two mounting poles 3 in one section be arranged each other in their lower rear part with a fastening device. The fastening device may be shaped as a relatively narrow plate part with through holes which are intended to be faced against the rear wall 6. The plate part may for example be fastened to the rear wall with the help of bolts or screw.
The bullet trap may of course be part of a shooting range. The shooting range may be arranged in a house adapted for shooting, for example a rebuilt truck/container that is moveable to different places where a shooting range is needed. Other examples are conventional shooting ranges in buildings and rooms adapted for shooting. The housings for shooting may be soundproofed by including sound-absorbing material in the housings.
The invention is not limited to the above mentioned embodiments but may be varied in numerous ways within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A bullet trap (1) with a plurality of inclined plates, arranged in sections, where of each short side of each plate is arranged a standing suspension arrangement which is connected with a rear wall (6) characterized by that the bullet trap is grid-like; that the inclined plates (2) have a downward bent rear longitudinal edge (4); that each short side (8) of the inclined plates (2) in one section is arranged a mounting pole (3), which constitutes the suspension arrangement, placed standing at the side of the plates (2) in the section; the inclined plates (2) are mounted such that a bullet shot straight towards the side of the bullet trap (1) that is turned towards the shooting direction (10) intends to hit the underside (2 a) of an inclined plate to subsequently slide along the underside (2 a) of the inclined plate towards the downward bent rear edge (4).

2. The bullet trap according to claim 1, characterized by that the number of inclined plates (2) is at least 15 for a section of the bullet trap with a height corresponding to 1 meter.

3. The bullet trap according to claim 1, characterized by that the sides (3 a) on the mounting poles (3) in which the plates are mounted are connected in a V-like profile, where the tip of the V-like profile is turned towards the shooting direction (10).

4. The bullet trap according to claim 3, characterized by that each of the sides (3 a) in the V-like profile includes inclined indentations for mounting of the plates (2).

5. The bullet trap according to claim 4, characterized by that the main part of each mounted inclined plate is directed at an angle of 30 degrees +/−10 degrees against the level of the floor.

6. The bullet trap according to claim 4, characterized by that the indentations in each pole are shaped in such a way that there is at least 1 mm play for respective inclined plate to vibrate in.

7. The bullet trap according to claim 1, characterized by that that an oblong angled plate (9) is placed in front of each mounting pole, the oblong angled plate (9) has a V-like profile.

8. The bullet trap according to claim 4, characterized by that each mounting pole (3) is connected with the front wall (7) with two narrowly shaped tightening devices (5) arranged the upper and the lower part, respectively, of the mounting pole (3).

9. The bullet trap according to claim 8, characterized by that the tightening devices (5) are arranged the oblong angled plate (9) which with a pressing power, transmitted by the tightening devices (5), intends to prevent the plates from sliding out of the indentations on the side of the mounting pole (3).

10. The bullet trap according to claim 1, characterized by that the bullet trap is arranged in a shooting casing.

11. A shooting range including a bullet trap according to claim 1, characterized by that the shooting range is arranged in a house adapted for shooting.

12. A shooting range according to claim 11, characterized by that the house is soundproofed by including sound-absorbing material in the house.

13. The bullet trap according to claim 2, characterized by that the sides (3 a) on the mounting poles (3) in which the plates are mounted are connected in a V-like profile, where the tip of the V-like profile is turned towards the shooting direction (10).

14. The bullet trap according to claim 5, characterized by that the indentations in each pole are shaped in such a way that there is at least 1 mm play for respective inclined plate to vibrate in.

15. The bullet trap according to claim 4, characterized by that that an oblong angled plate (9) is placed in front of each mounting pole, the oblong angled plate (9) has a V-like profile.